Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. T. GILGHRIST GAR GOUPL'ING.

Patente-d Feb. 17, 1885.

Ill

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN fr. GILOHnIsT, OF KNOBEL, ARxANsAs.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,345, dated February 17, 1885.

A pplication filed December :22, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN T. GILOHRIsT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knobel, in the county of Clay and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-.Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciiication, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked there- Figure 1 of the drawings represents an end view, in perspective, of a railroad-car, showing my improved coupling-link connected to the draw-head thereof; and Fig. 2, a detail view, in perspective, of the coupling-link.

The present invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in that class of car-coupling links provided with laterally-extending bars or rods to serve as handles, as the object thereof is to improve the construction, whereby the links will be much stronger, less liable to bend or twist, and more evenly balanced. These Objects I attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the end of a ca-r, having connected'thereto, in the usual manner, the draw-head B, to which is secured the coupling-link C by pin a. This link C is of the form shown in Fig. 2, and is cast with handles D, extending transversely orat right angles to the length of the link, and are of sufficient length to project some distance beyond the sides of the drawhead, so that the link can be held in position by one of its handles, while the' draw-heads come together without danger of injury to the person coupling the cars. The rod or bar which forms the handles D passes through the link, which in reality divides it into independent links c d, thus greatly strengthening the coupling-link proper, allows less opportunity of its twisting, and in many respects renders it more practicable. The draw-heads have each grooves b at their outer end, to form seats for the handles D and bring them flush with the end of the draw-heads, so that when coming together the handles will not be injured by the draw-heads striking them.

Unlike the links heretofore employed, where the transverse handle passes or extends from the side of the lin'k,and not through it, it will be seen that the rod Or bar forming the handies inthe present invention divides the link into two independent links, thus strengthening it at a point where it most needs it, and in many respects renders it Imore practical.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the draw-heads of a railroad-car having grooves at their outer ends to form seats, and the usual couplingpins, of a horizontal bar or rod cast with independent links, said bar or rod extending between the links and beyond each side thereof to form transverse handles, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. GILCHRIST. Witnesses:

J OsEPH SELLMEYER, B. H. SELLMEYER. 

